Sunbasket vs Thistle (+3 Sample meals)
The following info-rich post will be discussing the features which are present in Sunbasket and Thistle and comparing the two with each other. Sunbasket is a meal kit delivery service which operates across most regions of the United States today. Thistle, is a meal delivery service which focuses on delivering healthy and nutritious dishes to its users.
In the end, we will give you our opinions on which of these two may be the better choice based on first-hand experiences.
Sunbasket vs Thistle
In the table below, you will find the various important features which are present in Sunbasket and Thistle. We have also clearly mentioned the delivery areas of these two platforms along with the types of recipes which you can expect. Using the data in the table, you can make a better-informed choice about which platform serves your needs better.
| Feature | Sunbasket | Thistle |
| Delivery areas | 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii | California,NV,AZ,WA,OR,ID |
| Price range | $10.99 to $13.99 per serving | $42 per week minimum |
| Price per plate | $11.49 per plate | $11.50 per plate |
| Difficulty levels | Easy,Intermediate,Expert | Easy |
| Avg. cooking time | Up to 50 minutes | No cooking required |
| Avg. calorie count | 650 calories per serving | 400-600 calories per serving |
| Supporting material | Meal description,Nutritional fact,Recipe cards | Meal description,Nutritional facts |
| Recipes supported | Soy-free,Gluten-free,Protein plus,Vegetarian,Calorie-conscious | Vegetarian,Vegan,Meat,Gluten-free,Dairy-free,Wellness shots |
| No. of choices | 17 per week | 30 per week |
| Introductory deal | $90 off + 1 free gift | 2 free meals with first order |
| Avg. shelf life | 5 days for meat,3 days for seafood | 3 days after delivery in refrigerator |
Types of Plans: Sunbasket vs Thistle
| Sunbasket | Thistle |
| Fresh & Ready Meal plan $9.99 – $17.99 per meal + shipping charges,Serves 1,Only needs to be heated | Breakfast $11.25 per meal |
| Quick & Easy plan $12 – $18 per serving + shipping charges,Prepared in 10 minutes,Require only a single plan | Lunch $12.50 per meal |
| Lean & Clean $12 – $18 per serving + shipping charges,Calorie-conscious meals,Contains lean meat and seafood | Dinner $12.50 per meal |
| Meat only $2.25 extra per meal |
In Sunbasket, the customer can choose from a large menu of options not only containing recipes, but even meal plans for the whole week. The meal plans here include the Lean and Clean option for those who want to eat light and lean throughout the week. There are also quick-cooking options here which can be found in the Quick & Easy plan..
Thistle is pretty straightforward and does not have any such plans. The user only has to add the items of their liking to their cart and then proceed with the checkout. The great thing about this is that there are options to have only vegetarian meals and even those with meat and plant-based protein.
Winner: Sunbasket wins the Types of Plans segment.
Types of Ingredients: Sunbasket vs Thistle
| Ingredient type | Sunbasket | Thistle |
| Produce | Organic fresh produce,Seasonal ingredients | Mostly organic produce,Gluten-free |
| Meat, eggs, fish | Antibiotic-free, Hormone-free,Sustainably-sourced seafood | Antibiotic-free,Hormone-free |
| Other ingredients | Seasonings,Marinades,Spice rubs,Sauces | None |
In Sunbasket, the ingredients are completely organic and very fresh. This meal kit delivery service also places a lot of emphasis on bringing the best of seasonal goods to the customer. The meat and poultry in Sunbasket are all antibiotic-free and hormone-free, while the seafood is sustainably sourced.
Thistle states that it uses organic ingredients whenever possible. This meal delivery service is completely dairy-free and gluten-free. As far as the meat is concerned, Thistle does not give much information as to where this is sourced from. For vegetarians, Thistle also give the option of using plant-based protein in the food.
Winner: Sunbasket wins the Types of Ingredients segment.
Add-Ons: Sunbasket vs Thistle
| Sunbasket | Thistle |
| Grocery items,Breakfast,Lunch,Snacks | Snacks,Desserts,Soups,Salads |
When it comes to add-ons, Sunbasket certainly does not disappoint. In this meal kit delivery service, the customer can order more than just meal kits. They can also add grab-and-go breakfast items, lunch items and even snacks to keep them full in between meals. There are also grocery items for specific diets in Sunbasket.
Thistle also offers a number of add-ons for the customer. The add-ons here include snacks and even healthy desserts which can be consumed without guilt. Furthermore, Thistle offers a wide selection of soups and salads which the user can add to their meals to bring more wholesomeness and nutrition.
Winner: Sunbasket wins the Add-ons segment.
Packaging of Meal kit: Sunbasket vs Thistle
| Sunbasket | Thistle |
| Box,Paper insulation,Bags,Denim insulation,Ice packs,Fiber trays and sleeves,Recipe cards,Egg containers | Cardboard boxes,BPA-free plastics,Ramekins |
| Fully recyclable | Fully recyclable |
Both of these platforms give plenty of importance to the recyclability of the packaging. And therefore, Sunbasket meal kits come packed in cardboard boxes which are insulated with paper and denim cotton. The individual ingredients are packed in plastic and this can be recycled curbside.
Thistle also uses only recyclable packaging for its meals. The packaging in Thistle is not only recyclable, but certain ingredients like the sauces come in compostable sachets and ramekins. Thistle also gives plenty of ideas for the customer to reuse the packaging, while encouraging them to share their DIY-upcycling projects on the platform’s social media pages.
Winner: Thistle wins the Packaging of Meal kit segment.
Customer Support: Sunbasket vs Thistle
| Feature | Sunbasket | Thistle |
| Chat support | + | – |
| Email support | + | + |
| Phone support | + | – |
| Availability | All days of the week | All days of the week |
Sunbasket has laid out very useful customer support for its beloved patrons. The customer support of Sunbasket is best reached through the live chat feature of this meal kit delivery service. In addition to live chat, Sunbasket also offers email support and even phone support for its users.
Thistle does not, unfortunately, have that great a customer support system. There is no live chat feature here, nor is there phone support. The only way to raise an issue up with Thistle is through email which does not guarantee an immediate response from the platform. This can be a major disadvantage for the user.
Winner: Sunbasket wins the Customer Support segment.
Sample Meals: Sunbasket vs Thistle
| Sample | Sunbasket | Thistle |
| Sample 1 | Name: Black Angus rib-eyes with romesco and artichoke-olive saladPreparation time: 15 minsSpice level: MildDifficulty: Easy | Name: Red Thai CurryFeatured Ingredients: Lemongrass, ginger, garlic, limeCalorie count: 554Heating required: Optional |
| Sample 2 | Name: Vietnamese shaking beefPreparation time: 25-35 minsSpice level: MildDifficulty: Easy | Name: Green Olive PastaFeatured Ingredients: Chickpea pasta, capers, castelvetrano olivesHeating required: Not required |
| Sample 3 | Name: Seared pork with blueberry-apricot sauce and sautéed greensPreparation time: 20 minsSpice level: MildDifficulty: Easy | Name: Miso Squash BowlFeatured Ingredients: Chickpea miso glazed squash, mushrooms, garlic rice, lemon miso vinaigretteHeating required: Optional |
Sunbasket offers plenty of recipes which can be easily incorporated into anyone’s lifestyle or diet. The recipes here also come in various difficulty levels from easy to complex, in order to suit the preferences of various home chefs. The recipes also star a variety of ingredients, from meat to plant-based proteins.
Thistle also has lots of recipes, but the main focus is on vegetarian and plant-based dishes. The dishes in Thistle are fully prepared and can be consumed as they are or after a little heating on the stovetop or in the microwave. The customer also has the option to switch certain ingredients like veggies for meat.
Winner: Sunbasket wins the Sample Meals segment.
App rating: Sunbasket vs Thistle
| Platform | Sunbasket | Thistle |
| Google Play Store | 4.5 | 2.9 |
| Apple App Store | 4.7 | 2.7 |
| TWP Rating | 4.5/5 | 3/5 |
Final Verdict: Sunbasket wins this showdown because of its ease of use and high customer satisfaction levels.
In Sunbasket, the customer can choose from numerous choices when it comes to the recipes. The recipes are mostly easy but there are also complicated ones for those who like a challenge. Sunbasket not only offers meal kits which need to be cooked from scratch, but even fully prepared meals.
Thistle also has a lot of variety. While the meals are mostly vegetarian, this meal delivery service allows the user to opt for meat and plant-based proteins as well. However, these cost extra and this can be a letdown for customers. The customer support of Thistle is also very weak and the customer satisfaction levels of this platform are also pretty low.
Between Sunbasket and Thistle, the crown obviously and easily goes to Sunbasket. Perhaps the only advantage of Thistle in this competition is that the meals are fully prepared and therefore save a lot of time in the kitchen. At the same time, prepared meals can also be found in Sunbasket in more variety, which makes this beauty the winner here.
Methodology
To bring you the best reviews of each and every meal delivery service, we spoke to testers and real life users, reviewed the information provided by each service on their respective websites, carried out primary research on social media platforms and checked out the user reviews of these platforms on various social media sites. We have also used the reviews presented by current users of these services on their respective Google and Apple apps.
We are currently conducting our own internal review and we will update this page with videos and pictures of our experiences. If they differ extensively from what our external reviewers said then we will update this post so you get both points of views and can decide which service provider is more suited to your needs based on the information above.
The main types of criteria which we have used in order to assess and evaluate these meal delivery services is the simplicity of the recipes, the variety of meals in the service, the inclusiveness of diets and cuisines and even the supporting material.
In addition to these, we have also highly taken into regard the sustainability and recyclability of the packaging of these services. Lastly, we have also considered the delivery services and customer services of these platforms.
Frequently asked questions: “Sunbasket vs Thistle”
Is Sunbasket processed food?
No, Sunbasket is not processed food. The meals in Sunbasket are fresh and completely organic. The meal kits and meals in Sunbasket are both therefore high acclaimed among customers. The meal kits also come with freshly prepared seasonings and spices which are safe to consume on a long term basis.
Do you lose weight on Thistle?
No, you do not lose weight on Thistle. This is because this meal delivery service does not have meal plans which are specifically focused on weight loss. However, due to the high protein content and high fiber content of the meals in Thistle, users may find themselves losing weight. At the same time, this is not always guaranteed.
Can you microwave Thistle?
Yes, you can microwave Thistle meals. As an alternative, you can also heat the food up in a conventional oven or even on the stove top. This does not apply to all the foods of Thistle. The smoothies and juices can be consumed when they are cold and do not need to be heated. This also applies to certain salads and pastas.
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